Primary Results: California House Races (Updated)

Updated 10:33 a.m., 2:15 p.m. | The race for California’s coveted 31st District remained too close to call Wednesday morning, with just 390 votes separating the second- and third-place finishers.

The results will make or break the race for Democrats, who have invested significant resources in this competitive district and named it one of their top targets of the cycle.

In California, the top two vote recipients, regardless of party, advance to the general election.

Republican political consultant Paul Chabot clinched the first-place spot in the contest with 27 percent with 100 percent of precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press.

Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar, a Democrat, is currently in second place, receiving 7,368 votes, followed by former Capitol Hill aide Lesli Gooch, a Republican, who had 6,978 with 100 percent of precincts reporting.

If Gooch gains ground on Aguilar to take the second-place spot, Democrats will again be shut out of what should be a competitive district for the party.

Last cycle in the 31st District, retiring GOP Rep. Gary G. Miller and another Republican advanced to the general election, wiping this race off the map for Democrats even as President Barack Obama carried the district with 57 percent.

If Aguilar does advance, California’s 31st District is rated a Leans Democratic contest by the Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.

California’s 7th District

Former Rep. Doug Ose, R-Calif., advanced to the general election in California’s competitive 7th District, defeating a tea party-backed primary foe for the chance to take on Democratic Rep. Ami Bera.

Bera garnered 47 percent, while Ose received 27 percent, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, according to the AP.

Ose was the preferred pick among establishment Republicans, who say his more moderate record will play better against Bera — a freshman Democrat who came to Congress from the medical field and not political office.

Ose, however, had to fend off former Capitol Hill Aide Igor Birman, who worked as chief of staff to California Republican Rep. Tom McClintock before launching a bid. Birman was backed by former Rep. Ron Paul and other tea party groups, such as FreedomWorks.

Looking to November, Bera and Ose will now face off in this district, which Obama carried by a 4-point margin in 2012.

California’s 7th District is rated a Leans Democratic contest by the Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.

California’s 25th District

Democrats were shut out of what could have been a competitive open-seat House contest Tuesday, after two Republicans advanced to the general election in this northern Los Angeles County district.

Former state Sen. Tony Strickland and state Sen. Steve Knight, both Republicans, took the first- and second-place spots respectively in the district, which is vacant because GOP Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon is retiring. With 100 percent of precincts reporting Strickland garnered 29 percent, while Knight took 28 percent, according to the AP.

The Democratic recruit, podiatric surgeon Lee Rogers, came in third with 22 percent.

With two Republicans advancing, this takes a competitive race off the map for Democrats in November. GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney carried the district by a slim 2-point margin in 2012.

Other California Results

Gubernatorial: Republicans avoided a “disaster” Tuesday when establishment-backed Republican Neel Kashkari defeated state Assemblyman Tim Donnelly to earn second place in the gubernatorial primary. Kashkari will now face Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown in November. Brown is still heavily favored in November, but Republicans feared Donnelly’s controversial comments could drag down their House candidates. (Rating: Safe Democrat)

11th District: Democratic state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier has a clear path to victory in November, after he and a Republican advanced to the general election Tuesday night. DeSaulnier garnered 59 percent to Republican attorney Tue Phan’s 28 percent, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, according to the AP. This is a race to replace retiring Democratic Rep. George Miller. (Rating: Safe Democrat)

15th District: Freshman Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat, advanced to the general election in November. However the second-place spot was too close to call Wednesday morning. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Republican Hugh Bussell led state Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett, a Democrat, 26 percent to Corbett’s 25 percent, according to the AP. Just 610 votes separates them. (Rating: Safe Democrat)

33rd District: Republican attorney Elan Carr leads the crowded field with 21 percent, followed by Democratic state Sen. Ted Lieu with 19 percent. Former Los Angeles Controller Wendy Greuel, a Democrat, conceded the race on Wednesday, paving the way for Lieu to come to Congress. This is an open-seat race to replace retiring Rep. Henry A. Waxman in this heavily Democratic district, located in and around Hollywood. (Rating: Safe Democrat)

35th District: Democratic state Sen. Norma Torres will face off with fellow Democrat Christina Gagnier in November. Torres received 67 percent to Gagnier’s 16 percent, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, according to the AP. Torres is the likely successor to replace Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod, who is leaving Congress after a single term to run for San Bernardino County Supervisor in 2014. (Rating: Safe Democrat)

36th District: Freshman Rep. Raul Ruiz, one of this cycles most vulnerable Democrats, will face state Assemblyman Brian Nestande, a Republican, in November. Ruiz received 50 percent to Nestande’s 35 percent, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, according to the AP. (Rating: Democrat Favored)

45th District: GOP state Sen. Mimi Walters will face Democrat Drew Leavens in November, giving her a clear path to come to Congress in this heavily Republican district. Walters received 45 percent to Leavens’ 29 percent, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, according to the AP. This is an open-seat race to replace retiring GOP Rep. John Campbell. (Rating: Safe Republican)

52nd District: Freshman Rep. Scott Peters, a Democrat, will face former San Diego City Councilmember Carl DeMaio, a top Republican recruit. Peters received 42 percent to DeMaio’s 36 percent, with 99 percent of precincts reporting, according to the AP. This will be one of the most competitive races of the cycle. (Rating: Tossup)

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The Republicans & Democrats, have both Failed, the More Than 2.6 Million Unemployed Families, still Without an Extension Of Unemployment Benefits, since Late Last December. For the past Five And A Half Months, these families have had to face Evictions, Home foreclosures, Bankruptcy, and Homelessness, while these two political parties played “Party Politics” in the senate, Delaying and Postponing the vote. The Republicans in particular, have held the Extension Bill “Hostage” in the senate, never truly planning on passing the bill. When Billions of Tax Payer Dollars have been Approved for the Ukraine, and More spent on Military aid for Europe, the poor & Unemployed in this country are left alone to struggle and suffer economically. We have Representatives that are No Longer Representing the interests of the average American, but are answering to Corporate America and Special Interest Groups instead. These career politicians need be voted out of office in the coming election..

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